Lance

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Lance (兰斯)
Alias(es)	Raven — his public adventurer codename 5 6
Species/Race	Human 34 36
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Adventurers’ Guild; formerly its clerical records team 1 3
Occupation/Role	Former Guild copyist; registered, full-time adventurer 6 49
Status	Alive; unclassed, pursuing the Great Deed profession Pale Sentinel 49 50
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Castro Swordsmanship LV2 → LV3 (Proficient)	1	Gains 1 Strength and 1 Agility after training; meets the skill requirement for adventurer registration.
Hvergelmir’s Boiling Surge awakened	1	Red-ranked personal talent grants near-total stamina recovery through breathing and resistance to pain and abnormal conditions.
Ouroboros Ring manifested and unlocked	2–3	Second red talent; grants one perfect resurrection per day, cleansing negative conditions and resetting cooldowns after revival.
Castro Swordsmanship LV3 confirmed	3	Reaches Proficient level after sixteen days of intensive private training, a milestone normally requiring about a year.
Castro Swordsmanship LV3: 3/250 → 13/250	8	Invests 10 Skill Experience from the Coppercap Mushroom commission.
Goblin Biological Research LV1: 4/20	15	The Biological Research module activates after Lance’s first four Goblin kills.
Castro Swordsmanship LV3 → LV4	22	Gains 1 Constitution and 1 Strength; unlocks the Trench Rat’s Bite specialty.
Goblin Biological Research LV2	32	Achieved during the Goblin battle; unlocks Weakness Insight (Goblin).
Great Deed: “I Successfully Defied Death”	32	Fulfilled after Lance is killed protecting Damian and resurrects through Ouroboros Ring.
Azure Dragon Supreme Essence Style LV1	48	Receives an advanced dragon-inspired unarmed magical body art from Amber’s crystal card.

Background / History

Previous Life and Transmigration

Lance was an ordinary office worker before dying from a computer electrical leak while reviewing an embarrassing adult game. He awoke in the body of a young man from Grayrock Town who had been murdered by a thief while returning home at night. The inherited memories of that death shaped his three rules for survival: avoid excitement, avoid other people’s troubles, and never go out after dark 1.

He abandoned the body’s hazardous letter-writing work, moved to a safer neighborhood, and used his late father’s former comrades to obtain a secure copyist position at the Adventurers’ Guild. His work gave him reliable income, access to adventurer information, and a reputation for discretion 1.

Awakening Talents

One month after transmigrating, Lance’s game-like system appeared. It revealed Hvergelmir’s Boiling Surge, a red-ranked talent that restores his stamina as long as he continues breathing and reduces the effects of pain, fatigue, and abnormal conditions 1 2.

Four months later, he manifested an impossible second personal talent, Ouroboros Ring. Since individuals are believed to awaken only one personal talent in a lifetime, Lance recognizes that his transmigrator status may be responsible for the anomaly 2 3.

From Copyist to Adventurer

The aftermath of the Grayrock dungeon rampage initially turns Lance away from adventuring. After reading a dead adventurer’s family letter, he anonymously gives more than half his savings to the grieving family, delaying his own plan to move to Ostella 2.

His talents eventually convince him that adventuring can provide a safer long-term route to financial independence than years of copying documents. He trains under a retired Blood Iris Battle veteran, privately practices through Nia’s connections, and reaches Proficient Castro Swordsmanship in sixteen days 3.

Lance registers under the codename Raven, deliberately separating his guild-clerk identity from his adventurer identity. He begins with gathering commissions in Copper Creek Forest, using preparation, high-quality equipment, and Environmental Stability readings to avoid unnecessary combat 5 8.

First Battles and Research

Lance’s first direct battle is against four Goblins. He uses a rock wall to deny them a surround, blocks their stone attacks with his shield, and kills all four with controlled sword-and-shield counterattacks 12.

Afterward, his system unlocks Biological Research. Goblin kills become research samples, giving him a path toward species-specific abilities and eventually the possibility of extracting racial talents to overcome human Attribute Locks 15 36.

During the Copper Creek joint sweep, Lance rescues Damian from a large Goblin force. He is killed after exposing his back to protect the unconscious boy, but resurrects immediately through Ouroboros Ring. The experience fulfills the Great Deed “I Successfully Defied Death” and reveals the Pale Sentinel profession path 31 32 34.

Full-Time Adventurer

Lance develops an improved Hemostatic Ointment from Blood-Clotting Moss. Its effectiveness rivals high-end healing products while remaining inexpensive to produce, allowing Flora to promote it through Morwenna’s potion shop 25 27 40.

Following the joint sweep and the growing success of his ointment, Lance resigns from his copyist position. He upgrades from beginner leather armor to reinforced chainmail, a steel kite shield, and a new shortsword, then commits himself to becoming a full-time adventurer and qualifying for Pale Sentinel 49.

By Chapter 50, he has 22 Guild merit points—far short of the 300 needed for a high-output Breathing Technique suited to his stamina-based fighting style. Guild President Necros summons him to discuss a special commission after reviewing Gareth’s report of Lance’s actions in the forest 49 50.

Appearance

Lance is described as harmlessly handsome and gained local notoriety as Grayrock Town’s “pretty-boy scribe.” As Raven, he conceals that gentle public image beneath practical combat equipment and a hood 2 6.

• Wears a hood or chainmail hood to obscure his identity as Raven 6 49.
• Initially used reinforced leather armor with iron-plated protection, a half-mask helmet, wooden shield, and shortsword 6.
• Later upgrades to monster-hide-lined chainmail, steel-reinforced bracers and greaves, a steel kite shield, and a new shortsword 49.
• Often returns from combat covered in Goblin blood; after the forest rescue, other adventurers avoid sharing close quarters with him because of the smell 33.

Personality

Lance is cautious, pragmatic, and deeply committed to survival. He avoids danger when possible, plans expenses carefully, selects low-risk commissions, and refuses to confuse recklessness with courage. His preference for Castro Swordsmanship comes from its emphasis on defense, balance, and surviving confined fights rather than flashy attacks 1 7 22.

His self-preservation does not prevent compassion. He donates savings to a dead adventurer’s family, warns other gatherers about a dangerous area despite their mockery, and risks his own life to save Damian from Goblins 2 8 32.

Lance is also analytical and opportunistic. He studies the practical limits of every ability, identifies market demand for his ointment, uses Guild resources efficiently, and recognizes when ambushes or information advantages are safer than direct confrontation 22 25 37.

After his first resurrection, he begins to feel exhilaration rather than fear when recalling battle. He recognizes this growing appetite for combat as dangerous and deliberately tries to restrain it 35.

Abilities & Skills

Hvergelmir’s Boiling Surge

A red-ranked personal talent that makes Lance extraordinarily difficult to exhaust.

• Fully restores stamina after a few breaths; prolonged exertion is limited more by injury, hunger, and equipment durability than fatigue 1 2.
• Provides strong resistance to pain, mental fatigue, pressure, and abnormal conditions 1 22.
• Lets him maintain peak-condition shield charges, repeated thrusts, and long training sessions that would exhaust ordinary adventurers 3 31.
• Does not make him invulnerable to coordinated attacks, wounds, or being surrounded 32.

Ouroboros Ring

A red-ranked personal talent based on the eternal cycle symbolized by Ouroboros.

• Grants one perfect resurrection per day, even if Lance’s body is completely destroyed 3.
• Restores his body, removes negative conditions, and resets abilities on cooldown after resurrection 3.
• Activates when Goblins kill him while he protects Damian; he returns fully healed and resumes combat 32.
• Lance refuses to treat resurrection as a disposable safeguard, recognizing that death remains psychologically and tactically dangerous 15 32.

Castro Swordsmanship

A sword-and-shield discipline of the Iris Kingdom’s Third Legion, originally designed for fighting leather-armored Orcs in muddy trenches 1.

• Uses a compact sequence of thrust, shield bash, withdrawal, and renewed defensive stance 22.
• Favors short, efficient thrusts over wide slashes, making it suited for tunnels, forests, and other cramped terrain 22.
• Allows Lance to block sustained attacks before countering with lethal thrusts 12 31.
• Reaches LV4 after intense practice, increasing his Strength and Constitution 22.

Trench Rat’s Bite

A specialty unlocked upon reaching Castro Swordsmanship LV4.

• Adds 5% physical penetration to Lance’s sword thrusts 22.
• Primarily improves thrust stability against armor and hard surfaces rather than merely increasing raw damage 22.
• Enables more consistent lethal counters against Goblin brutes and scouts 31.

Environmental Stability

A system function that measures local danger and environmental instability.

• Displays the stability percentage of Lance’s current area 7 8.
• A reading below 50% indicates nearby danger, monster activity, or a likely forced encounter 7.
• Lets him abandon unsafe gathering zones before an ambush and warn others of approaching threats 8.
• Can display regional affixes; the “Tranquil” affix improves resistance to mental abnormalities and reduces stamina consumption 7.

Biological Research and Weakness Insight

A system research module that records defeated creatures as biological samples.

• Goblin research begins after Lance kills four Goblins; progress requires additional kills 15.
• Reaching Goblin Research LV2 grants Weakness Insight (Goblin) after Lance’s resurrection 32.
• Weakness Insight reveals glowing weak points that can inflict up to 200% critical damage when struck 32.
• Lance uses it to rapidly eliminate the remaining Goblins after reviving, including strikes beneath an armpit and through an exposed throat 33.
• At higher research levels, Lance expects to gain map-marking and racial-talent extraction options, potentially allowing him to surpass human Attribute Locks 36.

Codex

A system feature unlocked after Lance defeats Hakon.

• Records a defeated person’s attributes, skills, condition, secrets, and social connections 24 25.
• Reveals hostility and friendliness through a color-coded social-network diagram 25.
• Shows Lance that Hakon’s Strength and Constitution were high enough that a fair fight could have been dangerous 25.
• Its known limitation is that a target must first be defeated and recorded; whether entries update automatically is unknown 25.

Azure Dragon Supreme Essence Style

An advanced magical unarmed body art obtained from Amber’s crystal card.

• Mimics dragon-like movements through clawing hands, tail-like arms, and full-body force 48.
• Focuses on brutal strikes intended to destroy defenses and break bones 48.
• Can eventually channel internal energy through the fists and feet 49.
• Lance cannot yet use its energy-based techniques because he lacks both an energy pool and a Breathing Technique 49.

Hemostatic Ointment

Lance’s system-enhanced medical product derived from Blood-Clotting Moss.

• His improved method produces a dark-red medicinal film that rapidly seals wounds in testing 25.
• Its effectiveness is compared to expensive Trollblood Potion while remaining much cheaper to make 27.
• Flora arranges for the ointment to be marketed through Morwenna’s potion shop at 25 copper coins per jar 40.

Class Path: Pale Sentinel

Pale Sentinel is a Human-only Great Deed profession unlocked after Lance fulfills “I Successfully Defied Death” 32 34.

Requirement	Lance’s known position
Constitution 12, Spirit 10, Perception 10	Lance has Constitution 6, Spirit 7, and Perception 5; all must be raised, while Constitution must exceed the normal human cap of 10 36
Three weapon skills at LV5, one unarmed skill at LV5, one Breathing Combat Art at LV5	Castro Swordsmanship and Levin Archery are planned weapon disciplines; Azure Dragon Supreme Essence Style fills the unarmed-skill role but is only LV1 34 48 49
Guard alone against over 50 monsters for over an hour on a full-moon night	Must remain in a stationary Guarding state until dawn or the protection succeeds 34
Complete “I Successfully Defied Death”	Completed through Ouroboros Ring resurrection 32 34

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Reinforced chainmail shirt and integrated chainmail hood — lined with monster hide for improved protection 49.
• Steel-reinforced bracers and greaves — leather-and-metal protective gear using refined steel strips 49.
• Steel kite shield — broad upper coverage with a pointed lower edge usable in close combat 49.
• Fine steel shortsword / replacement shortsword — Lance’s main weapon for Castro Swordsmanship 31 49.
• Hazelwood shortbow and fifty arrows — acquired to correct his lack of ranged options after his first Goblin battle 15.
• Damian’s blue cord knot — a crude good-luck charm attached to Lance’s pouch clasp 28.
• Magical crystal cards — Amber’s housewarming gift; drawing the King of Clubs grants him Azure Dragon Supreme Essence Style 48.

Relationships

• Nia — Guild receptionist, friend, and early supporter. She helps Lance access a private training room, processes his adventurer registration, and remains one of his closest companions in Grayrock Town 3 5 8.
• Amber — Tavern worker and close friend who regularly feeds Lance during training, defends him from public ridicule, and gives him the crystal cards that unlock Azure Dragon Supreme Essence Style 3 24 48.
• Flora — Gentle friend and business partner. She supports Lance with food, books, and the distribution of his Hemostatic Ointment through Morwenna’s shop 2 26 27 40.
• Damian — Kyle’s younger brother and a younger adventurer who considers Lance “Senior Raven.” Lance rejects Damian’s initial recruitment offer, teaches him to prioritize survival, and later saves his life during the Goblin sweep 14 28 31 33.
• Kyle — Adventurer who warned Lance about Gnolls during his first forest commission. Lance later learns that Kyle died in a Goblin ambush while supporting Damian’s education 7 8 14.
• Grayson — Lance’s Guild superior, who approves his leave for adventurer training out of respect for Lance’s late father 3.
• Gareth — “Windchaser,” a powerful Grayrock adventurer who finds Lance after the Goblin slaughter, arranges transport for Damian, and promises to report Raven’s achievements fairly 33.
• Necros — Adventurers’ Guild President. He recognizes Lance’s survival instincts and potential, then summons him regarding a special commission 50.
• Hakon — Hostile adventurer whose jealousy leads him to publicly insult Lance. Lance later defeats him in an alley, unlocking the Codex 24 25.

Notable Quotes

“Only by staying alive can you kill more goblins and avenge your brother.” 14

“Someone who only knows how to fight can't become an adventurer. That's just a brute.” 14

“I would.” 48

Trivia

• In the common tongue, “Lance” means a forthright, razor-sharp spear; his late father chose the name hoping he would carve out a future in the world 2.
• His Grayrock nickname, “pretty-boy scribe,” predates his adventurer identity 2.
• Lance’s initial ambition was to save ten gold coins, move to Ostella, and live quietly among beautiful nonhuman women rather than pursue fame or danger 1.
• He considers the stamina-based Gale March Breathing Technique a poor fit because its endurance benefits overlap with Hvergelmir’s Boiling Surge; he instead seeks a high-consumption technique that converts stamina into explosive offense 50.